NFL: Chandler Jones' pass rush is becoming an inside job for Patriots

Sunday

Sep 22, 2013 at 6:00 AM

Rich Garven NFL

FOXBORO — The Patriots moved up — moved up! — six spots in the 2012 draft, sending first- and third-round picks to Cincinnati in order to select defensive end Chandler Jones 21st overall in hopes he would bolster an anemic pass rush.

Jones did just that early in his rookie season, registering six sacks in the first eight games. But a nagging ankle injury slowed him in the second half and, playoffs included, he didn't have a sack the rest of the way.

That unwanted shutout streak continued in the season-opener two weeks ago as Jones — and the rest of his defensive mates, for that matter — failed to mount much pocket pressure on Bills rookie quarterback EJ Manuel. It mercifully came to an end four days later.

The Patriots sacked Jets rookie Geno Smith four times, with Jones having two of the sacks. And he would have had a hat trick if not for a roughing-the-passer penalty.

One of those sacks came from an unlikely starting spot. Jones was lined up in the sub defense at tackle, a position he had never played in a game until this season.

"I'm getting familiar with it," Jones said Friday. "Every third down, or whenever I get called to go down there, I'll play that position whenever (coach) Bill (Belichick) calls that package. It's fun."

Fun and fruitful.

"He had some production in there," Belichick said. "We've done that. He's done that in training camp and in both games. He's a versatile player. We've seen him stand up, get down, play on a tight end, play on a tackle, play on a guard. He's a versatile player that is long, he's got good quickness, and he uses his hands well."

As Belichick noted, this isn't the first time the Patriots have shifted a defensive end to tackle in an attempt to generate an inside rush in obvious passing situations. Jermaine Cunningham was utilized frequently in that role last season with limited success, and Marcus Benard got a long look in training camp.

While players like Cunningham and Benard, both of whom were released in August, and the 6-foot-5, 265-pound Jones have a decided speed advantage over interior linemen, they're generally giving up plenty of pounds.

"I think any time you move those defensive ends inside, they obviously are a little bit smaller physically," Belichick said. "But the quickness and the length they have over most traditional defensive tackles can cause those inside guys — guards and centers — some problems in protection just because they're not used to seeing that type of player inside. I think it's a tradeoff."

It's taken some getting used to for Jones as well.

"It's a lot faster," he said. "When you're playing defensive end, you don't have anyone outside of you. When you're down in the 3 technique or 2-I, there's a tackle, there's a center, there's a guard. Anyone can block you, so you have to be ready for any different scheme possible."

Rising rookie Michael Buchanan, who registered his first NFL sack against the Jets, often subs in at right defensive end when Jones slides inside. On the other side, you have Rob Ninkovich at end and Vince Wilfork at tackle.

That's four players, three of them natural defensive ends, who can legitimately get after the quarterback in obvious passing situations.

It appears the Patriots will stay the course as they believe Jones has the necessary ingredients to hold up and hold his own inside in the sub defense.

Belichick praised Jones, who appears to be closer to 280 pounds than his listed weight of 265, for a terrific offseason in which he improved his strength, much of which he comes by naturally. Some of that training involved boxing with his brother, UFC champion Jon "Bones" Jones."

Then there's the fact that Jones has ridiculous length with a reach of 35½ inches and, just as importantly, knows how to utilize it properly technique-wise.

"Guys like him that have real long arms are never going to win the bench-press competition, but they play with good leverage and their strength is their length," Belichick said. "That's different than strength being just weight room strength. He has great leverage strength.

"He uses that to his advantage and that helps him even though he gets outweighed. His length helps him play against some of those bigger guys, whether they're guards or tackles."

The Patriots moved up to draft Jones. Now they're moving him around. Consider that a win-win situation.